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IX International conference "Rivers of Siberia and the Far East" was held on 10-11 November 2015. Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Irkutsk region, Oleg Kravchuk said: "The support of scientific community, research institutions, environmental NGOs and water users allows us to confidently form a position to address emerging issues for sustainable development and conservation of rivers and lakes biodiversity."

The conference participants discussed many issues such as environmental regulation of acceptable impacts, conservation of rivers and lakes biodiversity, the protection of certain species of fish, the problems of the Baikal-Angara-Yenisei basin, as well as problems in the mining industry.

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The International Project Management Day​has been designated to raise awareness within project based organizations like UNOPS about the value a professional project manager brings to it. It is a space of recognition and acknowledgment for project managers and project teams. Held every year on the first Thursday of November, this year will be celebrated on November 5th.

As part of this event, the online session was organized by UNOPS. In report Sergey Kudelya told about Knowledge Management (“Knowledge management for environment and natural resources in UNOPS/UNDP/GEF projects”).

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28-30 October 2015 in Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) took place XII Meeting of Plenipotentiaries of the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of Mongolia on implementation of the Agreement on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Waters. The Russian delegation was headed by Marina Seliverstova, the Plenipotentiary of the Government of the Russian Federation, Head of the Federal Agency for Water Resources.

Within the framework of the meeting, the conference "Selenga - river without borders" was organized. The conference was dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of Mongolia on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Waters (1995). The reports on the history of water relations between the two countries and the current state of water resources of transboundary Selenga river, with a particular attention to climate change. Sergey Kudelya, Project Manager of the UNDP-GEF Lake Baikal Project, presented the results of the project and the unique edition of "Environmental Atlas of basin of Lake Baikal". The final version of the Strategic Action Programme was approved during the meeting.

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The venue chosen for the Forum is Irkutsk. Irkutsk is located next to the unique Lake Baikal, which is UNESCO World heritage site. Lake Baikal is a part of the Baikal natural territory, which is located on the territory of the Republic of Buryatia, the Irkutsk region, the Zabaikalsky krai.12 protected areas, including 3 nature reserves, 2 national parks, 6 nature sanctuaries directly adjoin to the coast of Lake Baikal. In addition to them, another 23 protected areas there and more than 400 monuments of nature located on the Baikal natural territory. The area of ​​the Baikal natural territory is of 386 000 square kilometer.As many global environmental problems are transboundary, the chain of issues will be discussed in the framework of the I Baikal International Environmental Forum: the pressing problems of the region associated with the implementation of the activities of the Baikal nature territory, exchange of experience, best practices in environmental preservation and management.

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The XV Meeting of Geographers of Siberia and Russian Far East "Geographical, socio-economic, environmental and ethno-cultural factors of development of the eastern territories of Russia" took place on 10-14 September for the first time in Ulan-Ude.

Scientists spoke about the urgent problems of geographical science, economic and geopolitical factors of Russia, the current state of the environment and the socio-economic development of Siberia in the early twenty-first century, the role of geography in the study of the eastern territories of Russia and affected many other important issues.

Before the plenary session the presentation of the Ecological Atlas of the Lake Baikal basin was made. A few copies of the Atlas were handed over to representatives of universities, libraries, museums and conservation agencies.

During the meeting a round table was organized, where the program of the improvement of electronic topographic map of the XXI century was discussed.

The organizers of the XV Meeting of Geographers of Siberia and the Russian Far East were: Buryat branch of the Russian Geographical Society, Baikal Institute of Nature Management (Ulan-Ude), Institute of Geography (Irkutsk), Pacific Institute of Geography RAS, Buryat State University. The XV meeting was also supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, the UNDP-GEF project "Integrated Natural Resource Management in the Baikal Basin Transboundary Ecosystem".

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The conference took place on 08-10 September 2015 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The main topics of the conference are: ecosystem biodiversity, modern processes of transformation of soil cover, modern state of the protected areas and its development.

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The purpose of the forum – is creation of a discussion platform for government agencies, NGOs, commercial and non-commercial sector, scientific organizations of Irkutsk region, Zabaikalsky krai and Buryatia. It is expected, that forum provides the basis for sustainable development and preservation of lake Baikal.

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World Water Week is hosted and organized by Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) and has been the annual focal point for the globe’s water issues since 1991. The aim of World Water Week is building capacity, promoting partnership and reviewing implementation. World Water Week provides a unique forum for the exchange of views, experiences and practices between the scientific, business, policy and civic communities. It focuses on new thinking and positive action toward water-related challenges and their impact on the world’s environment, health, climate, economic and poverty reduction agendas by:• Linking scientific understanding with policy and decision making to develop concrete solutions to water and development challenges.

• Fostering proactive partnerships and alliances between individuals and organizations from different fields of expertise.

• Highlighting ground-breaking research, best practices and innovative policy work by stakeholders and experts around the world and from multiple disciplines.

• Reviewing the implementation of actions, commitments and decisions in international processes and by different stakeholders in response to the challenges.

• Awarding outstanding achievements.

Sergey Kudelya presented his thesis about the Lake Baikal Project progress, the approach used and the main results.

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The program of the 2015 IGU Regional Conference is focused on diversity and interdisciplinary dialogue. It will include the following meeting formats:

sessions organized by IGU commissions;

sessions on relevant interdisciplinary themes proposed by groups of scholars;

thematic sessions devoted to IGU projects and to the role of geography in international

programs such as Future Earth;

plenary sessions and lectures by leading geographers as well as specialists from other earth sciences and the humanities;

lectures by practitioners from a wide variety of fields.

Geographical education and the integration of young scholars within the international geographical community are the main priorities for the IGU Regional Conference in Moscow.

The conference program will include two special events:1. A day for young scholars with a competition for best presentation and other awards2. A day for special sessions on “Academic Geography for Secondary Schools” and “Teaching Geography at the University.”

The conference will also host the International Geographical Olympiad.

The media project “Precious necklace of Baikal” was presented by Sergey Kudelya.

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The final meeting, devoted to the Strategic Action Programme (SAP), produced as a part of Lake Baikal Project, took place in the visit center of Baikal biosphere reserve on 28 July. The group of SAP consultants, chaired by Leading international Expert (Paul Gremillion) has discussed the last changes and approved the final version of the document. On 29 July the final version of SAP was also approved by the Steering Committee Meeting of the project.

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The new visit-center of Baikal biosphere nature reserve hosted the 4th Regional Steering committee meeting of the Lake Baikal Project.

The final Steering committee meeting was dedicated to presentation of the results, achieved by the project during the whole period of implementation.

UNDP Regional technical advisor, Vladimir Mamaev and Project Manager of the Lake Baikal project noted in their speeches, that Baikal Informational Center (BIC) was created with support of the project. BIC disseminates the electronic results of scientific and nature conservation organizations. The results are also covered in the magazine “World of Baikal”, in the series of films.

Due to the support of the project, in the national parks and reserves the eco-campings, pilot treatment facilities, eco-trails were constructed; learning courses were organized for the heads of the nature conservation organizations; the “White book of the Baikal basin” with the list and description of ecological NGOs was published.

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On July 16, a presentation of the documentary "Leman - Baikal. Trans-Eurasian overflight" (directed by Michael Chumak) was in the Buryat business center. The film has made during the Russian-Swiss expedition. Within three years the investigations were carried out using hyperspectral survey equipment mounted on ultralight trikes on Lake Geneva (Switzerland) and Lake Baikal (Russia). The film includes unique footage with scenic views of the lake, taken from a ultralight trike. The film was made by the studio "Atlas of Culture" with the support of Lake Baikal Protection Fund and the United Nations Development Programme.

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The filed mission to the area of Lake Ugii and Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan (Mongolia) was organized to carry out activities consistent with project objectives to support the people and organizations most immediately responsible for watershed and basin-wide management of the lakes and its aquatic ecosystems. The main objective is organize meeting to motivate the local people the topic on the protection of the lakes and conservation of globally significant biodiversity, threatened and near-threatened species around the areas Ramsar sites including Lake Ugii and Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan (Ugii nuur an Tariat soum of Arkhangai province) involvement in decision-making and implementation of integrated natural and water resources management and consult with rangers and local Government representatives.

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The VI international meeting of the Security Council was held in Ulan-Ude. A meeting of the representatives in charge of security, is held annually on the initiative of the Russian side.It is attended by secretaries of security councils, ministers, assistant to the president and prime minister for national security, security chiefs and other responsible leaders of over 70 countries, and the UN delegation.Russian delegation head is Nikolai Patrushev, Russian Security Council Secretary.

The issues related to international cooperation to combat the growing threat of global extremism and its new manifestations. In addition, participants discussed the theme: "Fresh water as a strategic resource for sustainable development of international security", "The role of Russia in ensuring biological safety at the international level", "Formation of the system of international information security."Within a framework of the session, the photo show "Precious necklace of Baikal” was organized.

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The photo exhibition of the Lake Baikal was launched on 11 June 2015 in Terminal C at the airport Sheremetyevo, Moscow. The main purpose of the exhibition is to form pro-active attitude of the population in regard to the environment.

More than 50 000 people from around the world goes through Sheremetyevo International Airport per day.

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This event was organized by the Government of Zabaikalsky krai, Ministry of natural resources and industrial policy of Zabaikalsky krai and UNDP-GEF Lake Baikal Project.The purpose of this event is demonstration of eco-touristic potential of reserves and national parks of Buryatia, Irkutsk oblast and Zabaikalsky krai.

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Ministry of natural resources of Russia together with Moscow Government traditionally organize the celebration of Environmental Day. In 2015 this event was opened in landscape reserve “Teplyy Stan” (Moscow).

The celebration is accompanied by ecological entertainment show. Media project “Precious necklace of Baikal” was presented during the celebration.

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The Doors Open Day took place in Baikal Biosphere Reserve on 06 June 2015 as part of Earth Day and the 1st All-Russian children ecological festival. The amusement rides were launched for children. Ecological games were organized by volunteers of the Great Baikal Trail.

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The 1st All-Russian festival was held on 05-07 June 2015, it combined two celebrations - the Children's Day and the Earth Day. This festival is a social and educational event, dedicated to the nature preservation, wildlife and plant life, organized specially for children. The main purpose of the event is development of ecological culture. The organizers of the festival in Buryatia are Rosprirodnadzor, Lake Baikal Protection Fund, UNDP-GEF Lake Baikal Project.

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On 26th May 2015 the 14th meeting of the basin Council of Angara-Baikal basin area was held. The following issues were discussed during the meeting: the situation in Angara-Baikal basin during the winter season, the results of works of the governments of Irkutsk region and Buryatia. The results of the work of the Lake Baikal project was reported.